HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — A dramatic video captured the moment a helicopter narrowly missed striking a bystander before crashing near a crowded event in Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to declare a mass casualty incident and hospitalize three people.

The incident occurred around 2:09 p.m., according to dispatch information from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The helicopter went down near the Waterfront Beach Resort along Pacific Coast Highway, in close proximity to the popular Cars and Copters on the Coast event — an annual showcase that attracts thousands of spectators to view helicopters and luxury vehicles.

Footage obtained shows the helicopter flying at a low altitude before suddenly losing control and dropping sharply toward the ground.

The aircraft crashed near the roadway, scattering debris across Pacific Coast Highway and into nearby trees adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa.

Emergency responders from the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene within minutes.

The helicopter came to rest wedged among trees, forcing first responders to secure the wreckage while providing immediate medical care to victims.

Authorities confirmed that two individuals were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash — both survived and managed to exit the wreckage.

However, three pedestrians standing nearby sustained injuries from the impact and were transported to local hospitals. Officials have not yet released updates on their conditions.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and disbelief as the helicopter descended toward the crowd. One attendee recalled,

“A couple minutes sooner and we would’ve been involved in this accident. It’s unreal — we had just crossed that same walkway two minutes before it happened.”

Police temporarily closed portions of Pacific Coast Highway and surrounding areas as crews conducted rescue operations and cleared debris. Event organizers have been cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will lead a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash, including possible mechanical failure or pilot error.

As of Saturday evening, no fatalities have been reported. Officials emphasized that the situation could have been significantly worse given the large number of attendees at the event.

“This could have been a far greater tragedy,” one official stated. “We are grateful for the quick response of first responders and the cooperation of everyone involved during this emergency.”